Question

Do I need a carseat to take a taxi?

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We are planning a trip to San Francisco but i have a 16 month old. Will we need to carry around a car seat to take a taxi? WIll taxi's take us without a car seat? Any advice will help, this is the first time we will be traveling out of town.

Mom Answers

I would rent a car if possible... I can see the inconvenience of having to drag a car seat everywhere you go (especially, since you're baby is probably walking or in an umbrella stroller by this point) It's not as easy to take a carseat with you as it was when he was an infant and the carrier WAS the car seat. So, either rental car or other public transportation..........Under California Law, YOU as parent are held responsible for properly restraining your child in a car that you are riding in. The driver has the responsibility of restraining a child unless the parents are there, then the responsibility falls on them... I guess it means that the driver CAN courier you around if you choose to not put him in a car seat but if he gets stopped, YOU will get ticketed.... Read more at: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27360.htm I hope this helps :)

To answer the question... here seems to be the actual law that governs children in taxis. In general it seems that carseats are NOT required in a taxi if driven on a street (not highway).
California Vehicle Code, Section 27315
(d) (1) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle on a highway unless that person and all passengers 16 years of age or over are properly restrained by a safety belt. This paragraph does not apply to the operator of a taxicab, as defined in Section 27908, when the taxicab is driven on a city street and is engaged in the transportation of a fare-paying passenger. The safety belt requirement established by this paragraph is the minimum safety standard applicable to employees being transported in a motor vehicle. This paragraph does not preempt more stringent or restrictive standards imposed by the Labor Code or another state or federal regulation regarding the transportation of employees in a motor vehicle.

Best thing I can tell you is, that this is the US and it is the LAW for your child to be in a car seat. Please take a carseat and use it EVERYTIME you get in a taxi. it may seem like a inconvience at times but they are used for a reason and can save your daughters life if you were in an accident

Do you really want to trust the life of your child to a perfect stranger in the first place??? I would not chance it at all!!! Plus it is LAW so the taxi's would probably not allow you to ride if you don't have one, unless they are shady and don't care, but you should care.

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